Univ.of  Ill.  Library 
5-5 

tllf  ,  ■ 


EftLlcIranl;  ®|m| ; 

THE  ADDRESS, 


T  O 

THE  GRADUATING  CLASS,  AT  ST.  MARY’S  HALL; 


AT  THE  CLOSE  OP  THE  FORTIETH  TERM, 


26tf)  JEarcfL  185J: 


BY  THE  FOUNDER  AND  RECTOR, 

,(.0  .  Uar&'V %*£ — 

THE  RIGHT  REVEREND,  THE  BISHOP  OF  NEW  JERSEY. 


“That  our  daughters  may  he  as  the  polished  corners  of  the  Temple” 


PHILADELPHIA  : 

INQUIRER  PRINTING  OFFICE,  57  SOUTH  THIRD  ST. 

1857. 


GRADUATES 


MARY  RAYMOND  ARMS, 

MARIA  LOUISA  BARRON, 
KATHARINE  AMANDA  BLAKISTON, 
ANNA  BULL, 

CHARLOTTE  LUCRETIA  COX, 

MARY  ELIZABETH  CURREY, 

ANNA  WHITING  DAVENPORT, 
JULIA  MATILDA  DAVENPORT, 
JULIA  ANN  DUBOIS, 

MARY  HOLLY  GATLIN, 

SUSAN  BAKER  GORDON, 

MARTHA  TURNER  HARDEE, 
PRISCILLA  ANN  HODGES, 
PERMELIA  VICTORIA  IGLEHART, 
MARY  ELIZABETH  KUTZ, 

CYNTHIA  ELIZABETH  MITCHELL, 
MARIA  PARKER  MOORE, 

MARIA  SANDS  PAGE, 

ELIZABETH  SHELDON  SCRIBNER, 
JOSEPHINE  LIPPINCOTT  STOKES, 
CAROLINE  AUGUSTA  SYKES, 
JULIA  WORTHINGTON  TREDWAY, 
MARY  ELIZABETH  WOOD. 


One  absent,  from  infirm  health. 


ADDRESS. 


By  the  good  hand  of  God,  upon  me,  I  have  lived, 
to  see  St.  Mary’s  Hall,  of  age.  Our  next  birth-day  is 
our  one  and  twentieth:  and,  as  if  to  mark  the  year 
of  our  majority,  we  exceed,  by  seven,  the  highest  num¬ 
ber,  that  has  ever  graduated.  To  day,  we  send  forth, 
from  our  guarded  hearth,  and  sacred  shrine,  three  and 
twenty — which,  but  for  failing  health,  had  been  twen¬ 
ty-four* — who  have,  for  years,  been  daughters  of  our 
house  and  heart.  To  lose  the  loving  words  and 
cheering  smiles  of  four  and  twenty  daughters,  from 
one  old  man’s  home,  is  not  a  loss,  that  can  be  esti¬ 
mated,  in  any  language,  or  by  any  figures.  But,  then, 
what  is  it,  to  have  given,  to  the  world,  in  one  day, 
four  and  twenty  women? 

St.  Mary’s  Hall  was  opened,  on  the  first  day  of 
May,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord,  1837.  I  was  young, 
then ;  and  full  of  hope.  I  do  not  feel,  now,  one  day 
-  older  :  nor,  am  I,  one  whit,  less  hopeful.  In  the  early 
years  of  its  existence,  I  was  often  asked — not,  how¬ 
ever,  for  the  last  twelve — why,  I  beganf — with  a  girls’ 


*One,  who,  from  infirm  health,  was  unable  to  complete  the  course;  hut  hope* 
ito  return, 

t Burlington  Colkgo  was  opened,  in  18RS. 


LIBRARY 
UNIVERSITY  OF  MW 


fsc  ) 


4 


school.  It  was  a  thoughtless  question;  which  no  one 
should  have  asked,  who  ever  had  a  mother.  I  thank 
God,  that  the  wisdom  of  the  act  has  been,  long  since, 
fully  justified.  More  than  two-thousand  girls  have 
gone  out,  from  these  walls.  Too  many  of  them,  by 
far,  have  not  stayed,  long  enough.  But,  wherever 
I  hear  of  them — and  they  are  found,  in  every  state, 
throughout  the  Union — I  hear  of  them,  as  centres  of 
good  influence;  and,  in  the  regions,  where  the  Church, 
still  struggles,  for  a  foot-hold,  they  are  welcomed,  as 
the  Missionary’s  most  efficient  helpers,  or  best  sub¬ 
stitutes.  I  aimed,  at  this.  That  they  should  be 
daughters,  sisters,  wives  and  mothers,  to  bless  and 
sanctify  their  homes ;  and,  that  they  should  shed  out, 
on  the  world,  around  them,  the  light  and  warmth  of 
their  own  consecrated  hearths.  And,  I  have  not  been 
disappointed.  While,  in  the  loving  way,  in  which,  in 
lettei's,  that  would  make  a  volume,  which  have, 
lately,  come,  to  me,*  they  ascribe  the  good,  that  is  in 
them,  and  the  happiness,  which  they  enjoy,  to  their 
religious  training,  here,  I  find  an  overpayment,  for 
ten  thousand  times,  the  loss,  and  suffering  and  sorrow, 
with  which  God  has  pleased  to  visit  me. 

St.  Mary’s  Hall  is,  just,  what  it  was  meant  to  be. 
After  the  trial  of  so  many  years,  it  is  but  justice  to 
the  case,  to  say,  that  it  has  done  just,  what  it  was 
meant  to  do;  just  in  the  way,  that  it  was  meant  to 
do  it.  And,  this,  by  a  threefold  influence  combined : 
The  Home;  The  School;  The  Church. 

At  JSt.  Mary  s  Hall,  the  children  are,  at  home.  They 
are  watched  over,  by  a  father.  They  are  cared  for,  by 

♦At  my  request,  tliat  all,  wlio  had  been  here,  would  inform  me  of  their 
whereabout. 


5 


a  mother.  And,  that,  most  wisely,  and  tenderly. 
And,  both  are  aided  and  sustained,  by  all  the  ten¬ 
derness,  and  carefulness,  which  beautify  the  love  of 
elder  sisters.  It  would  not  do  to  boast.  All  human 
provisions  a.re  uncertain.  But,  in  the  general,  it  may  be 
said,  that,  in  all  that  constitutes  protection,  from  every 
form  of  danger,  to  person,  to  health,  to  purity — what* 
ever,  would  be  thought  of,  first,  or  last,  as  safety,  for  a 
girl — St.  Mary’s  Hall  is  better  provided,  than  the 
houses,  from  which  its  inmates  come.  For  healthiness, 
it  has,  always,  been  a  marvel.  And,  in  a  recent  case 
of  extremest  illness,  the  most  intelligent  and  unequiv¬ 
ocal  testimony  is  borne,  that  no  home-care  could  have 
met  -the  case,  as  well.  But,  after  all,  the  test  of  home 
is  the  home-feeling.  And,  in  the  absence  of  home-sick¬ 
ness  ;  in  the  contented  cheerfulness,  which  fills  and 
animates  the  house ;  in  the  anxiety,  to  stay  here  ; 
and,  in  the  love,  which,  after  eighteen  years,  and 
more,  still,  yearns,  towards  its  walls,  and  cherishes 
its  memories,  as  traditions  of  delight,  there  is  such 
evidence,  as  none  can  question,  that  St.  Mary’s  Hall 
is,  and  is  felt  to  be,  a  home.  Not,  for  specific  acts 
of  kindness,  or  of  carefulness,  alone ;  not,  for  its  habits 
of  affection  and. devotion;  not,  for  its  uniformity,  and 
constancy  and  certainty,  in  every  thing  :  but,  that 
pervading  and  prevailing  atmosphere,  which  moulds 
the  nature,  in  unconsciousness ;  and  tones  the  temper, 
and  the  feelings,  and  the  thoughts,  into  the  unity  and 
unreserve  of  love. 

At  St.  Mary  s  Hall,  the  children  are  at  school.  The 
course  of  study  covers  all  the  ground  of  female  ed¬ 
ucation.  It  only  asks  more  time,  than  parents,  com- 


6 


manly,  afford  for  it.  But,  the  outline  is  complete;  and 
the  details  are  disposed  of,  with  a  just  discrimination. 
Elementary  Studies  are  dealt  with,  and  insisted  on, 
as  fundamental.  Grammar,  Geography,  Arithmetic,, 
and  History,  must  be  mastered.  For  the  rest,  Mathe¬ 
matical  studies,  as  clearing,  settling,  satisfying,  the 
mind,  and  giving  self  reliance,  accuracy,  and  certainty,, 
to  the  whole  woman,  are  most  faithfully,  and  most 
successfully,  pursued.  The  female  mind  takes  well 
to  Mathematics.  And,  we  have  seen  the  moral  benefit 
of  their  wise  discipline,  among  our  elder  daughters,  in- 
the  steadiness,  and  stableness,  and  settledness,  and 
well  proportionedness,  and  equipoise,  of  the  whole 
character.  But,  our  highest  aim,  the  grand  result, 
to  which  all  this  contributes,  is  to  enable  them,  having, 
thought  good  thoughts,  to  utter  them,  in  the  very 
best  vernacular.  English  composition  is  my  own  de¬ 
partment  :  and  it  is  heart- work,  with  us ;  and  done,, 
as,  only,  heart-work  is.  In  these  departments,  the 
Mathematical  and  English,  and  in  all  that  is  more 
elementary,  the  examination,  just  completed,  has  en¬ 
abled  you  to  judge,  of  what  is  done,  and  how.  The 
languages  of  Continental  Europe,  the  French,  the 
Italian,  the  Spanish,  and  the  German,*  are  as  exten¬ 
sively  brought  in,  as  the  time,  in  each  particular  case,, 
permits.  And,  they,  not  only,  but  the  Latin  language,, 
relied  on,  as,  for  their  separate,  intrinsic,  value,  so, 
for  their  absolute  necessity,  to  the  true  mastery  of 
the  noblest  language,  which  the  world  has  ever  listened, 
to,  our  own  dear  mother  tongue.  Nor,  with  all  these 
solid  and  substantial  branches,  are  the  adornments  of  a 
woman  disregarded.  In  the  concert-room,  and  in  the1 

-There  is  no  additional  charge?  for  anything. 


1 


picture-room,  there  are  results  of  taste  and'  beauty,  to 
be  heard,  and  seen;  which  would  he  much,  if  they 
were  all,  that  is  accomplished  in  the  time:  and  are  truly 
wonderful,  when  the  short  time,  which  they  can  have, 
is  thought  of.  And,  yet  when  all  is  done,  it  is  not, 
to  attainments,  or  acquirements,  or  improvements,  as 
specially  regarded,  that  we  ascribe  the  value  of  our 
plan.  But,  to  its  influence,  as  a  well  organized  and 
energizing  system,  to  discipline  and  train  the  mind ; 
and  fit  the  future  woman,  for  her  duties  and  responsi¬ 
bilities,  as  daughter,  sister,  wife,  and  mother :  and, 
especially,  for  that,  which  is  the  highest  work  of  men 
Or  women;  which  every  man  and  woman,  whether' 
they  will  or  not,  is  doing,  more  or  less;  and,  which 
Jesus  dignified  and  glorified,  the  work  of  teaching. 

But,  what  were  a  Home,  what  were  a  School,  without 
the  Church  ?  Blank  heathenism !  The  sinful  sensuality 
of  Pompeii.  The  painted  cloud  banks  of  the  Academy. 

*  As,  in  that  graphic  picture  of  their  proudest,  whom 
St.  Paul  preached  to,  at  Athens  :  “  and,  when  they 
heard  of  the  resurrection  of  the  dead,  some  mocked ; 
and  others  said,  we  will  hear  thee  again  of  this  matter.” 
It  is  the  glory  of  our  nature,  that  it  was  made,  in 
God’s  own  image.  It  was  its  curse,  to  lose  that  im¬ 
age,  by  transgression.  It  is  its  blessing,  that  it  is 
restored,  to  penitential  faith,  in  Christ.  Hence,  the 
atoning  Cross.  Hence,  the  restoring  Church.  As,  at 
the  first,  “the  saved”  were  “added  to  the  Church,”* 
and,  so,  were  “  added  to  the  Lord,”  from  Whom  their 
sins  had  parted  them ;  so,  to  the  last,  it  must  be. 
Therefore,  St.  Mary’s  Hall  is  in  the  Church;  is  so  much 

*Acts  ii  47;  v, 14.- 


8 


of  the  Church.  And,  hence,  alone,  from  God,  its 
vitalness  and  value.  But,  for  that,  I  could  ask,  for 
it,  no  confidence.  But,  for  that,  I  could  expect,  for 
it,  no  blessing.  Or,  only  such,  as  may  he  asked  for 
any  farm,  or  shop,  or  ship ;  that  it  may  prosper,  in  this 
Avorld:  make  money;  and,  then,  keep  it!  It  is  because 
St.  Mary’s  Hall  is  founded,  on  the  Rock,  Christ  Jesus, 
that  it  stands,  against  all  storms,  all  floods,  all  foes, 
of  earth,  or  hell.  And,  it  is  because  St.  Mary’s  Hall 
is  brooded  over,  by  the  wings,  of  that  descending 
Dove,  which  settled  on  the  Saviour’s  head,  that  the 
dear  children  here,  have  grown,  in  grace,  and  gone  on, 
towards  perfection ;  and  carried  to  so  many  homes,  the 
blessings,  which  they  gathered,  here;  and,  led  so  many 
parents,  to  the  Pont,  or  to  the  Altar;  and  sanctified 
so  manj''  hearths:  and,  literally,  turned  “the  hearts 
of  the  fathers,  to  the  children,  and  the  disobedient,  to 
the  wisdom  of  the  justified.”  The  teaching  of  the 
Church,  in  God’s  own  holy  word;  the  ministry,  of 
the  Church,  entrusted,  as  His  stewards,  with  His 
grace ;  the  prayers  of  the  Church;  the  sacraments  of  the 
Church;  the  training  of  the  Church;  the  music  of  the 
Angels,  in  the  Church ;  the  beauty  of  holiness,  in  the 
Church ;  the  very  atmosphere  of  Heaven  anticipated, 
in  the  Church :  these  are  our  arms ;  these  are  our 
agencies;  these  are  our  influences,  from  God, for  good; 
in  these,  is  our  hope;  on  these,  is  our  reliance;  by 
these,  is  our  triumph;  through  these,  is  our  victory, 
in  that  one  Banner,  which  must,  always,  conquer; 
and,  on  account  of  these,  our  claim,  to  human  confi¬ 
dence,  and  our  certainty,  that  God  is  with  us,  of  a 
truth,  and  will  continue,  to  us,  His  blessing.  This  was 
our  forecast  reliance,  from  the  first .  This  has  been, 


9  . 

year  after  year,  for  twenty  years,  the  accumulating 
experience  of  every  day.  To  this,  the  letters  of  the 
dear  ones,  who  have  gone,  from  here,  for  eighteen 
years,  bear  testimony,  that  has  melted  my  whole 
nature,  in  the  deep  sense  of  my  unworthiness,  to  be 
the  minister  of  so  much  grace ;  and  filled  my  heart,  to 
bursting,  with  devoutest  gratitude,  to  God,  from 
Whom,  alone,  these  blessings  are  derived.  And,  it  is, 
in  this  spirit,  and  with  this  conviction,  and  on  this 
confidence,  that  our  closing  act  is  a  religious  act :  and, 
that,  as  yesterdayf  we  bade  these  darlings  of  our  heart 
to  come,  and  be  partakers,  with  us,  at  this  holy  altar, 
of  that  spiritual  food,  which  nourishes  to  immortality ; 
so,  to  day,  we  do  not  let  them  go,  without  a  blessing : 
commending  them,  to  Him,  to  keep,  and  guide,  and 
care  for,  Who  alone,  can  lead  them  safely,  through 
the  dangerous  paths  of  life;  sustain  their  sinking- 
spirits,  in  the  hour  and  agony  of  death;  and  enable  us 
to  stand  up  with  them,  at  the  last — redeemed,  through 
His  dear  blood,  Who  died  for  us;  and,  then,  renewed 
and  sanctified,  by  the  divine  and  Holy  Spirit,  Which 
He  purchased  for  us — and  say,  with  trembling,  but, 
triumphant,  love  and  joy,  “Behold  I,  and  the  children, 
which  God  hath  given  me !” 

Beloved  ones,  the  parting  hour  has  come.  How 
shall  I  speak  the  words,  which  bid  you,  from  my  side  ? 
How  shall  I  say,  to  you,  farewell  ?  Only,  in  that  tri¬ 
umphant  grace,  which  conquers,  even,  self.  Only,  in 
that  true  love,  which  can  forget  its  own,  to  seek 
another’s  good.  Go  then,  my  children,  to  your  homes. 
Go;  and  be  comforts,  to  your  parents.  Go;  and  be 
blessings,  to  your  neighborhoods.  Go;  and  be  daugh- 

fThc  Feast  of  the  Annunciation. 


.  10 

ters  of  the  Church.  Go;  and  be  women,  such  as  God 
made:  the  helpers,  the  comforters,  the  ornaments, 
the  blessings,  of  your  kind. 

“I  saw  her,  upon  nearer  view, 

A  spirit,  yet  &  woman,  too! 

Her  household  motions,  light  and  free. 

And  steps  of  virgin  liberty ; 

A  countenance  in  which  did  meet 
Sweet  records,  promises  as  sweet ; 

A  creature,  not  too  bright  or  good, 

For  human  nature’s  daily  food : 

For  transient  sorrows,  simple  wiles, 

Praise,  blame,  love,  kisses,  tears  and  smiles. 

*  *  *  *  * 

The  reason  firm,  the  temperate  will. 

Endurance,  foresight  strength  and  skill; 

A  perfect  woman,  nobly  planned, 

To  warn,  to  comfort  and  command: 

And,  yet,  a  spirit,  still,  and  bright, 

With  something  of  an  angel’s  light,”* 

Beloved,  we  must  part.  You  take,  with  you,  my 
love,  my  prayers,  my  blessing.  Every  day,  your 
sweet  remembrance  shall  go  up,  with  my  best  loved, 
to  Him,  Who  hears  the  prayer.  Let  me  be  thought 
of,  at  the  twilight  hour;  and,  mentioned,  sometimes, 
in  your  orisons.  You  have  had,  beloved  ones,  and 
those  like  you,  the  twenty  best  years  of  my  life.  With 
my  heart,  I  thank  God,  Who  enabled  me  to  do  the 
service.  Nothing,  in  it,  that  is  not  overpaid,  by 
the  sweet  assurance  of  your  love.  Nothing,  that 
could  have  been  in  it,  of  cost,  or  loss,  or  sacrifice,  or  death, 
that  were  not  welcome,  as  the  airs  of  Paradise,  for 
the  confidence  of  what  you,  and  such  as  you,  will  be. 
And,  for  myself,  I  ask  no  words,  upon  my  grave — the 
only  land,  that  I  can  ever  own — but  the  record,  that 
it  holds  the  dust  of  him,  whom  God  employed,  to  found 
St.  Mary’s  Hall.  My  children,  may  God  bless  you ! 

*' Wordsworth. 


